Frequency, spectrum and phenotyping of radiation induced morphological mutants in lentil (Lens culinaris med.)

A wide spectrum of induced morphological mutations for various plant characters including plant height, leaf size, habit, days to flowering, branching pattern, pod size, maturity period, vegetative (non-flowering), sterility, persistence of green colour of the stem and leaves even at maturity were isolated from the treated populations of the three lentil varieties in M2 generation. The mutation frequency was very high at 300 Gy compared to other dose levels. Similarly, the spectrum was also broad at 300 Gy dose. Varietal differences were noticed in respect to the frequency and spectrum of morphological mutations induced with P-38 exhibiting higher number and types of mutations compared to the other two varieties.